Methods of obtaining a biological sample representative of a passenger cabin on an aircraft using an air cyclonic collector

ABSTRACT

A system for monitoring aircraft air including a vessel having an inlet, a conical main body for extracting particles from the air coating an inner surface on the conical main body, and an outlet, wherein the outlet is to be positioned within at least one of an outlet flow path or a recirculation flow path of an aircraft, and at least one of an outflow valve positioned in the outlet flow path downstream from the collector or a HEPA filter positioned in the recirculation flow path downstream from the collector.

PRIORITY CLAIM

The following application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Applications with the following Ser. Nos. 63/114,330, 63/114,339, 63/114,350, 63/114,400, 63,114,064, 63/114,157, 63/114,386, 63/114,366 all filed on Nov. 16, 2020; and patent application Ser. No. 63/043,414 filed on Jun. 24, 2020 the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference in their entirety.

BACKGROUND Technological Field

The present application is related to a system and method used to collect a representative air sample of an aircraft, more specifically to a method and systems for collecting a biological sample on an aircraft using a collector.

Description of Related Art

The spread progression of SARS-CoV-2 around the world has risen a red flag: economic globalization creates systemic risks. The CoVID-19 pandemic shed light on the need for better monitoring, detecting, and isolating ill passengers, specifically due to the detrimental impact on the global economy, specifically air travel due to closed borders, movement restrictions, and testing requirements.

However, the CoVID-19 pandemic the air travel industry has proven that air travel can be safe and that aircraft cabins have a well-managed airflow that minimize the risk for transmission of virus, and that being seated onboard an aircraft is safer than shopping in large stores. Governments and other authorities need to assume that aircraft are contaminated until proven “clean”, as 25% of COVID-19 cases are asymptomatic or pre-symptomatic; but still contagious. Thus, if borders shutdown and a drastic reduction in international travel global passenger travel is greatly reduced. To date travelers and governments have relied on individual diagnostic tests. The uncertainty of the results has reduced people's inclination to travel and subsequent airline inclination to maintain routes. However, to date, the microbial control of environment (air) has received very little attention, if any.

Accordingly, there is still a need in the art for developing and implementing highly precise systems and methods for pathogen detection, adapted to the aerospace segment (airports, aircraft, etc.). The present disclosure provides a solution for this need.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A system for sampling and monitoring aircraft air is disclosed. The system includes a vessel having an inlet, a conical main body containing: a reagent fluid for extracting particles from the air coating an inner surface on the conical main body, and an outlet, wherein the outlet is to be positioned within at least one of an outlet flow path or a recirculation flow path of an aircraft, and at least one of an outflow valve positioned in the outlet flow path downstream from the collector or a HEPA filter positioned in the recirculation flow path downstream from the collector. The buffer and reagent fluid can include molecular grade sterile water and a range of components as salts, surfactants, and different additives for nucleic acid protection and conservation. Buffer composition and pH range are determined depending of quality and quantity of samples to be harvested.

The inlet of the conical main body can have a smaller diameter than the outlet. The conical main body can taper down away from the inlet. The HEPA filter can be positioned in the recirculation flow path downstream of the collector, wherein the HEPA filter is configured and adapted to clean air flowing through the recirculation flow path after the air passes through the collector. The particles can include aerosol droplets exhaled from passengers throughout at least a portion of a flight. The system can include mounting slot in the outlet flow path upstream from the outflow valve, wherein the collector is positioned within the mounting slot. The collector can be configured and adapted for the conical sampling-recipient to be removed from the mounting slot for testing.

The vessel can include a plurality of vessels affixed within a space between an aircraft hull and a passenger cabin floor for collecting air samples at a plurality of locations throughout the aircraft. The plurality of vessels can be affixed between passenger cabin seats, within at least one of: galley areas, lavatories, or corridors, or be attached to a galley trolley. At least one of the plurality of vessels can be located within an aft cargo bay area.

A method of monitoring aircraft air is also disclosed. The method includes driving ambient cabin air from the cabin through a reagent fluid located within a conical collector, concentrating the reagent fluid, extracting and purifying the genetic material (DNA/RNA) from a portion of the concentrated reagent fluid to provide a sample for a test. The system can include conducting a Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test on the testable sample, including end-point PCR (epPCR), or/and real time quantitative PCR (qPCR), or/and Reverse transcriptase-quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR). The ambient cabin air can pass through a HEPA-filter after passing through the reagent fluid.

Extracting and purifying includes can include passing the concentrated reagent fluid through silica columns. Extracting and purifying can include passing the concentrated reagent fluid through magnetized beads. Also by passing the sample through a micro-fluidic multi-channel subjected to several chemical-protocol steps, such as concentrating the reagent fluid can include a passing the reagent fluid through a concentration pipette, also a concentrator using specific foams.

These and other features of the systems and methods of the subject disclosure will become more readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments taken in conjunction with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

So that those skilled in the art to which the subject disclosure appertains will readily understand how to make and use the devices and methods of the subject disclosure without undue experimentation, embodiments thereof will be described in detail herein below with reference to certain figures, wherein:

FIG. 1 is schematic view of the conical collector; and

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of an aircraft showing diagrammatically where the conical collector of FIG. 1 are be located.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made to the drawings wherein like reference numerals identify similar structural features or aspects of the subject disclosure. For purposes of explanation and illustration, and not limitation, a partial view of an exemplary embodiment of a system in accordance with the disclosure is shown in FIG. 1 and is designated generally by reference character 100. The global collector system described below is used to collect a bulk sample, representative of all passengers as a group on the aircraft and to test it to provide a bulk screening of the aircraft.

FIG. 1 shows a system 100 for monitoring aircraft air. The system 100 includes a vessel 102 having an inlet 104, a conical main body 106 containing: a reagent fluid 108 for extracting particles from the air coating an inner surface 110 on the conical main body, and an outlet 112. The outlet 112 is positioned within either an outlet flow path or a recirculation flow path of the aircraft. An outflow valve 114 (shown diagrammatically) is positioned in the outlet flow path downstream from the collector or a HEPA filter 113 (also shown diagramatically) can be positioned in the recirculation flow path downstream from the collector. This reagent fluid 108 is customized for the targeted pathogen/contaminant as well to the diagnostic test. Referring further to FIG. 1, the inlet 104 of the conical main body 102 has a smaller diameter (d1) than the diameter of the outlet 112 (d2). The conical main body 102 tapers down away from the inlet 104.

Referring to FIG. 2, a plurality of vessels 102 can be affixed within a space 202 between an aircraft hull and a passenger cabin floor for collecting air samples. The vessels can be affixed between passenger cabin seats 204, within at least one of: galley areas, lavatories, or corridors, or be attached to a galley trolley. At least one of the plurality of vessels can be located within an aft or fwd cargo bay area 206.

A method of monitoring aircraft air is also disclosed. The method includes driving ambient cabin air from the cabin through a reagent fluid located within the conical collector, concentrating the reagent fluid, extracting and purifying a portion of the concentrated reagent fluid to produce a testable sample to prepare the sample for a test, and conducting a pathogen/contaminant diagnostic test such as a Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test on the testable sample.

The methods and systems of the present disclosure, as described above and shown in the drawings, provide for an improved bulk data and analysis of passenger pathogens on an aircraft. While the apparatus and methods of the subject disclosure have been shown and described with reference to preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that changes and/or modifications may be made thereto without departing from the scope of the subject disclosure. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A system for monitoring aircraft air comprising: a vessel having an inlet, a conical main body containing: a reagent fluid for extracting particles from the air coating an inner surface on the conical main body, and an outlet, wherein the outlet is to be positioned within at least one of an outlet flow path or a recirculation flow path of an aircraft; and at least one of an outflow valve positioned in the outlet flow path downstream from the collector or a HEPA filter positioned in the recirculation flow path downstream from the collector.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the reagent fluid includes a customized mixture for the targeted pathogen or contaminant.
 3. The system of claim 1, wherein the inlet has a smaller diameter than the outlet.
 4. The system of claim 1, wherein the conical main body tapers down away from the inlet.
 5. The system of claim 1, wherein the HEPA filter is positioned in the recirculation flow path downstream of the collector, wherein the HEPA filter is configured and adapted to filter the air flowing through the recirculation flow path.
 6. The system of claim 1, wherein the particles include aerosol droplets exhaled from passengers throughout at least a portion of a flight.
 7. The system of claim 1, further comprising a mounting slot in the outlet flow path upstream from the outflow valve, wherein the collector is positioned within the mounting slot.
 8. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the collector is configured and adapted to be removed from the mounting slot for testing.
 9. The system of claim 1, wherein the vessel includes a plurality of vessels affixed within a space between an aircraft hull and a passenger cabin floor for collecting air samples.
 10. The system of claim 9, wherein the plurality of vessels are affixed between passenger cabin seats.
 11. The system of claim 9, wherein at least one of the plurality of vessels is affixed within at least one of: galley areas, lavatories, or corridors.
 12. The system of claim 9, wherein at least one of the plurality of vessels is attached to a galley trolley.
 13. The system of claim 9, wherein at least one of the plurality of vessels is located within an cargo bay area.
 14. A method of monitoring aircraft air comprising: driving ambient cabin air from the cabin through a reagent fluid located within a conical collector; concentrating the reagent fluid; and extracting and purifying a portion of the concentrated reagent fluid to produce a testable sample.
 15. The method of claim 14, further comprising conducting a pathogen/contaminant diagnostic test, on the testable sample.
 16. The method of claim 14, wherein the ambient cabin air passes through a HEPA-filter after passing through the reagent fluid.
 17. The method of claim 14, wherein extracting and purifying includes passing the concentrated reagent fluid through silica columns.
 18. The method of claim 14, wherein extracting and purifying includes passing the concentrated reagent fluid through magnetic beads.
 19. The method of claim 14, wherein extracting and purifying includes passing the concentrated reagent fluid through a microfluidic system.
 20. The method of claim 14, wherein concentrating the reagent fluid includes a passing the reagent fluid through a concentrator with foam. 